Myrtle and Benjamin Morgan Christian, New Mexico
On Nov. 9, 2012, I made a trip to Clovis New Mexico. I did this to research the families of "Christian", and "Fryar". The trip was well worth it, if for no other reason than these two books I found in the Genealogy dept of their library. Here is what one had to say about Ben & Myrtle Christian. The book is called "High Plains History, 1879-1979", by Don McAlvy.
I found the book in the Clovis library - Gen. dept.#978.78,McANM
This is what it said=
Benjamin Morgan Christian
Ben Christian was born in Tuscaloosa County, Alabam
March 19, 1876. He came to New Mexico to work for the Santa Fe Railroad in 1899. He worked on the wrecker crew and was wrecker foreman in Norther New Mexico and Souther Colorado.
He was transferred to Clovis to the Round House.
Ben met Myrtle McCormick who was working in a hotel
dining room. About a year later they were married on June 13, 1913. A short time later they moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico where Ben was transferred. Three Children were born in Carlsbad. A baby girl died at birth and buried there. Lewis was born in 1915 and Louise (Louise is "Mary Louise Christian"),was born in 1917. Ben's mother was
Sarah R. Christian.
In August, 1917 Myrtle moved back to "Havenor" with her two children to homestead a 1/2 Section of land about 12 miles west of Clovis on the Clovis-Ft. Sumner highway near Grier, New Mexico. Ben quit the railroad to move back with his family in April 1918.
In 1919 Elizabeth was born. In 1921 Alverta was born. Clifford was born in 1922. The first years of school for we children was on horseback to Grier. Later we rode a school bus to St. Vrain to attend school.
In the fall of 1931 Ben traded farms with a man in Hollene moving his family there. Four more children were born at Hollene. Betty Jo in 1931, Bennie in 1935, Bobby in 1934, and Jessie Paul in 1936. Jessie Paul died at age 2 months and is buried at Hollene.
In 1943 Ben and Myrtle moved to Leasant Hill with their three youngest children who finished school there. They lived there till 1950 when they sold out and moved to Clovis.
Ben & Myrtle lived on Sheldon Street. In 1959 Ben passed away. Myrtle continued to live in Clovis until 1967 when she moved to California to be near her children. She passed away in 1970. They are both buried in "Lawn Haven Memorial Garden".
Lewis married Mary Ella Conner. They have two children Daniel and Dianne who are both married. Lewis and Mary live in Fresno, California."Louise" married Joe Aldridge and has two children, Nadine and Joe Jr. They are both married. Louise and Joe live in Red
Bluff California.
Elizabeth married Ernest King. They have two children, Betty and Jimmy, both are married. Ernestand Elizabeth live in Lake Elsinore, California.
Alverta married Alden Simington. They had two children A. D. who died in 1958 and Jack who is married. They live in Salem, Ark.
Clifford married Donna Colvert, and has two children Carol and Scott. They live in Torrance California.
Betty Jo married Bob Byars and they have two girls Donna and Lisa. Donna is married. Betty and Bob live in Fullerton, California.
Bennie married Sue Medley. They have three Children, twin boys Gary and Terry and Jane Elizabeth. Both boys are married. Bennie and Sue live in Odessa, Texas.
Bobby married Barbar Price. They have two children Christi and Blaine. Bobby passed away in 1970 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Barbara and Christi and Blaine live in Grand Prairie, Texas. Bobby is burried in Lawn Haven Memoria Gardens near his parents.
by Elizabeth Christian King